Staining the house

Tom and I have different work styles. He likes to dwell, I like to get it done. I brought home a few colors of house stain that I thought might work for the southern wall. We only want to stain the worn facade on the southern exposed side. The rest of the house can wait.

I had power washed the south wall but felt It might need more. Tom hadn't wanted me to touch the south side at all so he wasn't really happy with me. Though it was a project that needed to be done we had both agreed. I didn't want to go any longer without addressing the south wall before winter. Tom wanted to ignore it one more winter. He is thinking of ripping it down and starting over with new siding. I wanted to patch and repaint as needed. It is cedar.  Tom re caulked the windows after I spent a day removing the old caulk. When I power washed, water seeped in to the inside so we knew the caulk needed to be redone. I had caulked last winter over the old stuff, which was not sufficient. I needed to rip out everything and start fresh.

I bought caulk filler tubing to push into the larger voids and the paintable waterproof exterior caulk to go on top. Products have improved over the years also, so I expect good results from this new stuff. Tom wanted to put the caulk on just to make sure it had good coverage and looked good. End result will be successful  if we stay dry inside this winter.

Tom had decided that the solid stain was going to work  to cover the layers of old stain color. The house would be sealed for the winter, no need to completely remove the old stains.  I had cheaply bought us time perhaps we could live with the siding forever.  I finally realized why I couldn't seem to match the paint chips coming off the house or the colors on the house with any one color of new stain. The house has several different stains on it from over time. I count at least three stain colors. So we go solid stain and cover it all, but try and match the main body of the house since we are only doing the one problem wall.

Tom always complains that I ask his advice and don't take it, when I am doing projects. So this time I set my heart firm and what ever color he wanted I would go with. I did it on the deck color and on the house. The final  colors are all his choosing.  It is a close match to what we need on the house, but I would have chosen a slightly different color on both the deck and the house had I not had to share opinions. Tom admitted on the deck after we were three quarters done he would have liked the other color also. In ten years we can change it.

Our next discussion was on how to put the stain on the two story building with lots of windows. I wanted to use a brush and rollers. Tom wanted to rent scaffolding and a paint sprayer. Our last house the guy worked from a ladder. Three quarters of this house is easily accessible from below. I priced out the rental equipment as I picked up the paint. $79 for the scaffolding for the week and $91 for the paint sprayer for the day. He might want two days knowing Tom. He might decide to do more once he got started and had the tools in hand. Plus tax we were looking at $300 in equipment just for one wall potentially. I told him we could probably hire someone at that price. He said call around and see.


I called a paint store and asked for names. The first number recommended didn't answer. The second number wasn't available for two weeks. He recommended the first guy. I told him that number didn't answer. The second guy gave me the first guys private cell number. I called and got an answer this time. He could be out in half an hour and was available for a one day job.

He came and looked at the project. He said $600 and he would prime first. Tom and I looked at each other. This was a stain, I didn't want primer. It is supposed to be perfect as is. Besides we just want a stop gap not a huge production. I said Tom could do it himself for $300. The guy said if all we wanted was the stain put on he would do it for $300. It would take about an hour and a half with his crew of two other guys. They would use ladders and roll it on the way I liked. He didn't like sprayers. Tom and I leaped at the price and I leaped at the fact it would be rolled on, not sprayed. Spray is a messy business.

He went away and came back at 3:30 with two more guys. They put up their ladders and their drop cloths. By 5:00 they were done. No mess no bother. $300 cash exchanged hands and Tom and I were in a happy place. The painters were happy with a quick job and $300.

I got to see the end of Trevor's football game. All in an afternoon. Though next time I will probably go with my paint choices after consulting Tom. Now I have to wait ten years before the color needs changing again. My halo is glowing but I don't think Tom sees it.  (wink)